Legendary football fan Manuel Caceres Artesero, better known as Manolo "el del bombo", which translates as Manolo The Bass Drummer, sent Russian President Vladimir Putin an e-mail asking to help him bring his bass drum, which he has been playing at Spain's matches for four decades, to Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium for the 2018 World Cup round of 16 encounter between Spain and Russia, Spanish media reported Thursday.
Manolo, who has attended Spain's all international matches since 1982, is currently in Russia to support his national team.
Manolo told Spanish radio station La Cadena SER that he failed to play his bass drum during Spain's matches against Iran in Kazan and against Morocco in Kaliningrad, as he was denied access to the stands with the instrument due to safety concerns. He was only allowed to play the drum in Sochi, where Spain played out a 3-3 draw with Portugal.
The 69-year-old football fan said that he had sent Putin an e-mail while also posting a call for help on his Twitter account, saying that Spain "needed its drum," and "the drum should be at the stadiums."
"I've asked the whole of Spain to help me: the prime minister, the king, all the fans. Maybe with their help I'll manage to bring my bass drum to the fourth [group stage] match [involving Spain]. I've been to 10 World Cups over 40 years, and I haven't experienced problems anywhere. Perhaps, this World Cup is my last one, and they don't let me [play the drum]," Manolo said.
Related Articles

Spain complete golden summer with victory over France

Spain, Sweden set for high pressure World Cup semi
